Product Overview
Phalaenopsis, Moth Orchid. One of the most popular orchids in the world as they require less attention than their beauty and appearance first suggests. Moth Orchids produce flowers that last about 3 months, sometimes even longer, at any time of the year. Many beautiful colours have now been bred, so a true collectors plant.
Grows best when given good light levels in Winter, this encourages flowering. Move to a shadier spot in Summer to avoid scorching sun. Water your orchid thoroughly throughout the growing season, if possible with rain water, approximately every 4 to 7 days. Submerge the pot, thus avoiding wetting the leaves, then allow to drain completely, as the one thing that they don`t like is standing in water. Allowing good air circulation around the roots in the pot mimics their natural habitat, as an epiphyte they usually grow clinging to a tree in the jungle.
Room to warm temperature, 17-19c, during the day, and cooler overnight temperatures, 15-16c encourages the growth of new flower spikes.
As a rule Phalaenopsis grow leaves in Spring and Summer, then produce flower spikes once the temperatures start to drop in Autumn. Once a flower stem has finished flowering there`s 2 schools of thought as to what to do. Firstly you can cut the stem at a node, a joint, further down the stem, and allow the plant to grow off the existing spike. Secondly it`s believed that cutting the stem back to the base of the plant allows for a more spectacular bloom in the future. Orchids generally don`t need much fertiliser, use a specific Orchid Feed during the leaf growth stage to give the plant a boost to produce new stems and buds. Phalaenopsis generally prefer to be pot bound. If any roots start to look old, or unhealthy, then repot in to a slightly larger pot, using fresh Orchid, bark based, compost. Trim away any old roots, the plant will thrive with less, healthier roots.
Warnings:
Not known to be toxic to humans or pets.
